HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR 2012!
22/01/12 17:00
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR 2012!
Welcome the Year of the Water Dragon. According to Chinese astrology, this year is a transformational life-changing year. It is a good year to focus on self improvement, to take calculated risks, and to build wealth. This year holds much promise as well as major transition.
The Chinese New Year, on the new moon January 23rd, is an opportune time to begin new strides in our dedication, whether that be toward our health, wealth, love, happiness, surrender, flexibility, inspiration, or whatever is at the forefront of our awareness. There are infinite ways to receive and celebrate the arrival of the New Year. Qi gong, tai qi, meditation, a lit candle, eating mooncake (the traditional Chinese food to celebrate the New Year), reflecting on our intentions, saying a prayer, a moment of silence, creating music, writing a poem, simply experiencing......the sky is the limit.
May we respect the wisdom, power, and infinite potential and transformation of Water and the magical mystique of the Dragon. Wishing you all a most glorious year.
Welcome the Year of the Water Dragon. According to Chinese astrology, this year is a transformational life-changing year. It is a good year to focus on self improvement, to take calculated risks, and to build wealth. This year holds much promise as well as major transition.
The Chinese New Year, on the new moon January 23rd, is an opportune time to begin new strides in our dedication, whether that be toward our health, wealth, love, happiness, surrender, flexibility, inspiration, or whatever is at the forefront of our awareness. There are infinite ways to receive and celebrate the arrival of the New Year. Qi gong, tai qi, meditation, a lit candle, eating mooncake (the traditional Chinese food to celebrate the New Year), reflecting on our intentions, saying a prayer, a moment of silence, creating music, writing a poem, simply experiencing......the sky is the limit.
May we respect the wisdom, power, and infinite potential and transformation of Water and the magical mystique of the Dragon. Wishing you all a most glorious year.
Winter herbal healing & toning
Greetings!
Winter officially began with the Winter Solstice on December 22nd.
In Chinese medicine, the Winter season is associated with:
the element Water
the yin yang paired organs and meridians of the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder
the salty flavor
the colors dark blue and black
the low back, knees, bones, teeth, and thickness and luster of hair on the head
the emotion of fear
the virtue of wisdom
and the spirit of the Will
Some foods that are particularly nourishing for the Kidneys and the Water element within us are black beans, sesame seeds, walnuts, and seaweed. Sesame seeds specifically tonify the Kidney Yin, while walnuts tonify the Kidney Yang. An excellent kitchen medicine Kidney tonic is a walnut-sesame-honey paste. It is simple to make and is delicious!
Blend together equal parts of walnuts and sesame seeds (i.e. - one cup of each)
Add enough honey to make into a paste consistency (in a separate bowl to avoid the blender getting very sticky!) Eat one Tablespoon daily. Keep refrigerated.
Seaweed is a Kidney tonic because it is salty, and the salty flavor has a natural affinity for the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder. Seaweed is an excellent source of iodine and vitamin B6, and it's a good source of potassium and iron. An excellent company for quality seaweed is Maine Coast Sea Vegetables. Their products are certified organic, and they are tested for chemicals, heavy metals, fuel oil, radiation, and bacteriological pollution. The website iswww.seaveg.com.
Essential oils that are great for affecting the Kidneys are black spruce and vetiver. Putting a drop on the bottom of the foot, in the center of the ball of the foot, is a direct way of nourishing the Kidney Qi. This part of the foot is where the Kidney meridian begins.
There are stones that influence the Kidneys and the Urinary Bladder. For disease in these two Water organs, the following stones are helpful: cuprite, prehnite, jade, and smoky quartz.
Stones that help with fear are: angelite, golden yellow calcite, orange calcite, jet, kunzite, lepidolite, sunstone, and tiger's eye. The stones can be carried, worn, or kept in one's vicinity to be effective.
In acupuncture, there is a Yuan Source point on every meridian. It is where the Yuan (Original/Primordial) Qi is activated, accessed, and accumulated. These points connect to the internal organ for which the meridian is named. Empirically, they are powerful points for directly communicating with the deepest aspect of our Qi. On the Water meridians, the Yuan Source points are Kidney 3/ Tai Xi/ Great Ravine, and Urinary Bladder 64/ Jing Gu/ Capital Bone. Kidney 3 is the Earth point on the Water meridian, and it tonifies Kidney Yin and Yang, strengthens the low back, and relieves heel and ankle pain. Urinary Bladder 64 dispels wind, clears the brain, and calms the heart and the Shen(the spirit of the Heart.)
The famous classical Chinese herbal formula for supporting the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder is called Six Gentlemen/ Liu Wei Di Huang Wan. It is so named because of its elegant(gentleman-like) composition of six herbs that are perfectly balanced. The treatment principle of the formula is to enrich Yin and nourish the Liver and the Kidneys.
The six herbs are:
Shu Di Huang, prepared rehmannia root
Shan Zhu Yu, dogwood fruit
Shan Yao, wild yam root
Ze Xie, alismatis root/ great water plantain
Mu Dan Pi, peony root bark
Fu Ling, poria mushroom/hoelen
The functions of the herbs are as follows:
Shu Di Huang- nourishes Blood and Essence, tonifies Kidneys
Shan Zhu Yu- nourishes Liver, restrains leakage of Yin and Essence
Shan Yao- tonifies Spleen and Kidneys; astringes Essence
Ze Xie- clears heat, promotes urination, clears turbidity from Kidneys
Mu Dan Pi- clears Liver Fire, cools Blood
Fu Ling- strengthens Spleen, expels damp, promotes urination
The elegance of the formula is understood in realizing that the first three herbs are tonics being counterbalanced by the gentle draining action of the latter three herbs. While Six Gentlemen is a Kidney tonic, it is thus by having mild draining as part of the tonification strategy. The principle of Yang within Yin is demonstrated by this dualistic approach. Symptoms addressed with Six Gentlemen include: sore and weak low back, vertigo and dizziness, tinnitus, diminished hearing, and night sweats.
The Chinese New Year will be here on January 23. Look for a blog entry on the White Pine website commemorating this event in a few weeks!
Wishing you happy, healthy, thriving Water energy in this time of Winter.
Winter officially began with the Winter Solstice on December 22nd.
In Chinese medicine, the Winter season is associated with:
the element Water
the yin yang paired organs and meridians of the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder
the salty flavor
the colors dark blue and black
the low back, knees, bones, teeth, and thickness and luster of hair on the head
the emotion of fear
the virtue of wisdom
and the spirit of the Will
Some foods that are particularly nourishing for the Kidneys and the Water element within us are black beans, sesame seeds, walnuts, and seaweed. Sesame seeds specifically tonify the Kidney Yin, while walnuts tonify the Kidney Yang. An excellent kitchen medicine Kidney tonic is a walnut-sesame-honey paste. It is simple to make and is delicious!
Blend together equal parts of walnuts and sesame seeds (i.e. - one cup of each)
Add enough honey to make into a paste consistency (in a separate bowl to avoid the blender getting very sticky!) Eat one Tablespoon daily. Keep refrigerated.
Seaweed is a Kidney tonic because it is salty, and the salty flavor has a natural affinity for the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder. Seaweed is an excellent source of iodine and vitamin B6, and it's a good source of potassium and iron. An excellent company for quality seaweed is Maine Coast Sea Vegetables. Their products are certified organic, and they are tested for chemicals, heavy metals, fuel oil, radiation, and bacteriological pollution. The website iswww.seaveg.com.
Essential oils that are great for affecting the Kidneys are black spruce and vetiver. Putting a drop on the bottom of the foot, in the center of the ball of the foot, is a direct way of nourishing the Kidney Qi. This part of the foot is where the Kidney meridian begins.
There are stones that influence the Kidneys and the Urinary Bladder. For disease in these two Water organs, the following stones are helpful: cuprite, prehnite, jade, and smoky quartz.
Stones that help with fear are: angelite, golden yellow calcite, orange calcite, jet, kunzite, lepidolite, sunstone, and tiger's eye. The stones can be carried, worn, or kept in one's vicinity to be effective.
In acupuncture, there is a Yuan Source point on every meridian. It is where the Yuan (Original/Primordial) Qi is activated, accessed, and accumulated. These points connect to the internal organ for which the meridian is named. Empirically, they are powerful points for directly communicating with the deepest aspect of our Qi. On the Water meridians, the Yuan Source points are Kidney 3/ Tai Xi/ Great Ravine, and Urinary Bladder 64/ Jing Gu/ Capital Bone. Kidney 3 is the Earth point on the Water meridian, and it tonifies Kidney Yin and Yang, strengthens the low back, and relieves heel and ankle pain. Urinary Bladder 64 dispels wind, clears the brain, and calms the heart and the Shen(the spirit of the Heart.)
The famous classical Chinese herbal formula for supporting the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder is called Six Gentlemen/ Liu Wei Di Huang Wan. It is so named because of its elegant(gentleman-like) composition of six herbs that are perfectly balanced. The treatment principle of the formula is to enrich Yin and nourish the Liver and the Kidneys.
The six herbs are:
Shu Di Huang, prepared rehmannia root
Shan Zhu Yu, dogwood fruit
Shan Yao, wild yam root
Ze Xie, alismatis root/ great water plantain
Mu Dan Pi, peony root bark
Fu Ling, poria mushroom/hoelen
The functions of the herbs are as follows:
Shu Di Huang- nourishes Blood and Essence, tonifies Kidneys
Shan Zhu Yu- nourishes Liver, restrains leakage of Yin and Essence
Shan Yao- tonifies Spleen and Kidneys; astringes Essence
Ze Xie- clears heat, promotes urination, clears turbidity from Kidneys
Mu Dan Pi- clears Liver Fire, cools Blood
Fu Ling- strengthens Spleen, expels damp, promotes urination
The elegance of the formula is understood in realizing that the first three herbs are tonics being counterbalanced by the gentle draining action of the latter three herbs. While Six Gentlemen is a Kidney tonic, it is thus by having mild draining as part of the tonification strategy. The principle of Yang within Yin is demonstrated by this dualistic approach. Symptoms addressed with Six Gentlemen include: sore and weak low back, vertigo and dizziness, tinnitus, diminished hearing, and night sweats.
The Chinese New Year will be here on January 23. Look for a blog entry on the White Pine website commemorating this event in a few weeks!
Wishing you happy, healthy, thriving Water energy in this time of Winter.
How singers cope with sore throats and raspy voices
How singers cope with sore throats and raspy voices
(with help from honey, herbs, and acupuncture)
In Chinese Medicine, when studying herbal medicine, we learn that Pang Da Hai, sterculia seed, is the secret pocket remedy of many an opera singer. It clears heat, which manifests as irritation or even hoarseness, and also moistens the yin, thereby coating the throat. The way it is used is to pour hot water over the dry seeds which are about the size of a large almond. Once the Pang Da Hai has been submerged, an amazing phenomenon occurs...which is this amorphous gelatinous glob spreading out throughout the cup. While it looks strange, it is extremely effective. The tea, which is very mild in flavor, is sipped and enjoyed as the voice is preserved for both performance and just talking!
Honey is also an excellent remedy and preventative for singers and actors. It is so lubricating and is loaded with B vitamins, so that it is also an immune boost.
As far as acupuncture goes, there are several empirical points that work extremely well at both preventing and treating a sore throat. Some of these points are:
Lung 7 and Kidney 6
Large Intestine 4
Stomach 44
Stomach 42
San Jiao 6
Auricular point for the throat (ear acupuncture)
So, sing away, and feel assured by these simple yet effective preventions and remedies!
(with help from honey, herbs, and acupuncture)
In Chinese Medicine, when studying herbal medicine, we learn that Pang Da Hai, sterculia seed, is the secret pocket remedy of many an opera singer. It clears heat, which manifests as irritation or even hoarseness, and also moistens the yin, thereby coating the throat. The way it is used is to pour hot water over the dry seeds which are about the size of a large almond. Once the Pang Da Hai has been submerged, an amazing phenomenon occurs...which is this amorphous gelatinous glob spreading out throughout the cup. While it looks strange, it is extremely effective. The tea, which is very mild in flavor, is sipped and enjoyed as the voice is preserved for both performance and just talking!
Honey is also an excellent remedy and preventative for singers and actors. It is so lubricating and is loaded with B vitamins, so that it is also an immune boost.
As far as acupuncture goes, there are several empirical points that work extremely well at both preventing and treating a sore throat. Some of these points are:
Lung 7 and Kidney 6
Large Intestine 4
Stomach 44
Stomach 42
San Jiao 6
Auricular point for the throat (ear acupuncture)
So, sing away, and feel assured by these simple yet effective preventions and remedies!
Autumn & Lavender: In Celebration of Lavender
09/11/11 15:38 Filed in: Chinese Medicine | Herbal Remedies
Happy Autumn!
Autumn is a contemplative time as we transition out of Late Summer and move toward Winter. In Chinese Medicine, each season is associated with one of the Five Elements. Autumn is the time of Metal. Metal is associated with the Lungs and Large Intestine, the breath, the ability to let go, grief, and our connection to Spirit.
Having recently returned from an amazing visit to Europe, I have been contemplating how significant herbal medicine is (and has been for many centuries) in European culture. Many apothecaries that carry herbs and now also pharmaceuticals have been operating since the 13th century, often in the same location. It was so wonderful to be able to visit the apothecaries and consult with the trained professionals and procure herbs, homeopathics, and/or pharmaceuticals depending on the presenting condition.
Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is an herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean. It is grown abundantly in the Provence region of France. Being among the lavender fields was an incredibly delightful sensory experience, as the concentration of lavender perfuming the air was so stimulating. It has a very uplifting, mind opening quality, and to smell it in such mass quantities was incredible.
Lavender is a highly medicinal herb. The part of the plant distilled for medicinal essential oil is the flowers. The flowers themselves are great to enjoy in baths and sachets. The essential oil is considered to me a middle note with a balancing influence, meaning it stimulates or relaxes according to individual needs, as in, it is adaptagenic.
From a western perspective, lavender essential oil regulates the central nervous system. It is helpful for abscesses, acne, anxiety, athlete’s foot, boils, burns, colds, coughs, cuts, cystitis, dandruff, depression, earache, eczema, fainting, flatulence, fluctuating moods, head lice, high blood pressure, infectious illness, insect bites and stings, insomnia, laryngitis, menstrual irregularities, migraine, muscular aches and pains, nervous tension, and skin care.
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, lavender’s nature is cooling, its taste is spicy and sweet, and its channel affinities are the Lungs, Liver, and Pericardium.
It has four main functions:
1-Release Wind Heat: chills and fever, sinus infections, sore throat
2-Promote smooth flow of Liver Qi: headaches, muscle spasms and tightness, dysmenorrheal, scanty menses
3-Calm the shen (spirit): palpitations, irritability, insomnia, restlessness, high blood pressure
4-Diffuse Lung Qi: chest tightness
Topical applications:
1-Apply directly for insect bites, burns/sun-damaged skin
2-Reduce scarring
3-Diffuse for calming effect, or place on pillows
Additionally, lavender can normalize blood sugar levels.
Lavender is clearly a very versatile herb with a lot of healing properties. It is nice to incorporate the essential oil of lavender into our preventive health care at this time because of its direct relationship with the Lungs whose time is Autumn, and specifically its ability to diffuse Lung Qi is relevant. This helps us to engage with our breath and transform our emotions so that we can let go.
Autumn is a contemplative time as we transition out of Late Summer and move toward Winter. In Chinese Medicine, each season is associated with one of the Five Elements. Autumn is the time of Metal. Metal is associated with the Lungs and Large Intestine, the breath, the ability to let go, grief, and our connection to Spirit.
Having recently returned from an amazing visit to Europe, I have been contemplating how significant herbal medicine is (and has been for many centuries) in European culture. Many apothecaries that carry herbs and now also pharmaceuticals have been operating since the 13th century, often in the same location. It was so wonderful to be able to visit the apothecaries and consult with the trained professionals and procure herbs, homeopathics, and/or pharmaceuticals depending on the presenting condition.
Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is an herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean. It is grown abundantly in the Provence region of France. Being among the lavender fields was an incredibly delightful sensory experience, as the concentration of lavender perfuming the air was so stimulating. It has a very uplifting, mind opening quality, and to smell it in such mass quantities was incredible.
Lavender is a highly medicinal herb. The part of the plant distilled for medicinal essential oil is the flowers. The flowers themselves are great to enjoy in baths and sachets. The essential oil is considered to me a middle note with a balancing influence, meaning it stimulates or relaxes according to individual needs, as in, it is adaptagenic.
From a western perspective, lavender essential oil regulates the central nervous system. It is helpful for abscesses, acne, anxiety, athlete’s foot, boils, burns, colds, coughs, cuts, cystitis, dandruff, depression, earache, eczema, fainting, flatulence, fluctuating moods, head lice, high blood pressure, infectious illness, insect bites and stings, insomnia, laryngitis, menstrual irregularities, migraine, muscular aches and pains, nervous tension, and skin care.
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, lavender’s nature is cooling, its taste is spicy and sweet, and its channel affinities are the Lungs, Liver, and Pericardium.
It has four main functions:
1-Release Wind Heat: chills and fever, sinus infections, sore throat
2-Promote smooth flow of Liver Qi: headaches, muscle spasms and tightness, dysmenorrheal, scanty menses
3-Calm the shen (spirit): palpitations, irritability, insomnia, restlessness, high blood pressure
4-Diffuse Lung Qi: chest tightness
Topical applications:
1-Apply directly for insect bites, burns/sun-damaged skin
2-Reduce scarring
3-Diffuse for calming effect, or place on pillows
Additionally, lavender can normalize blood sugar levels.
Lavender is clearly a very versatile herb with a lot of healing properties. It is nice to incorporate the essential oil of lavender into our preventive health care at this time because of its direct relationship with the Lungs whose time is Autumn, and specifically its ability to diffuse Lung Qi is relevant. This helps us to engage with our breath and transform our emotions so that we can let go.
Late Summer and remember to vote for Best Of on Mtn Xpress
Hello!
Oh the beauty of Late Summer......of course it a season unto itself within Chinese medicine, culture, and philosophy. We are still in the fullness of Summer, yet we feel, smell, and sense the approach of Fall. The winds of change bring the pivotal shift out of the full heat of summer and and into the more moderately warm and less humid days of Late Summer. This season is under the domain of the Spleen. One of the roles of the Spleen is that of transitioning between the seasons. Healthy Spleen Qi fuels this smooth progression, helping us to stay centered and calm. When the Spleen Qi is flourishing, the mind is clear. The glorious color association of Late Summer is that of yellow.
I would like to suggest an ode to yellow......both poetically and metaphorically within ourselves.
Yellow is in abundance around us in many of the blooming wildflowers right now, such as: St. John's Wort, Goldenrod, Jerusalem Artichoke, Sneezeweed(really it is named that!), and Mullein. It is so bright and beautiful.
Yellow is the color associated with the area of the body just beneath the heart, above the navel. This area is actually called The Yellow Court. It is our center, our sacred place that protects our heart, harboring all the positive, infinite possibilities of who we are. It is essentially the holding place or residence of unconditional love within us. It is helpful to visualize yellow incubating and expanding outward from this area.
Haiku for Late Summer:
open to yellow
while swallowing bright flowers
tranquility smiles
Oh the beauty of Late Summer......of course it a season unto itself within Chinese medicine, culture, and philosophy. We are still in the fullness of Summer, yet we feel, smell, and sense the approach of Fall. The winds of change bring the pivotal shift out of the full heat of summer and and into the more moderately warm and less humid days of Late Summer. This season is under the domain of the Spleen. One of the roles of the Spleen is that of transitioning between the seasons. Healthy Spleen Qi fuels this smooth progression, helping us to stay centered and calm. When the Spleen Qi is flourishing, the mind is clear. The glorious color association of Late Summer is that of yellow.
I would like to suggest an ode to yellow......both poetically and metaphorically within ourselves.
Yellow is in abundance around us in many of the blooming wildflowers right now, such as: St. John's Wort, Goldenrod, Jerusalem Artichoke, Sneezeweed(really it is named that!), and Mullein. It is so bright and beautiful.
Yellow is the color associated with the area of the body just beneath the heart, above the navel. This area is actually called The Yellow Court. It is our center, our sacred place that protects our heart, harboring all the positive, infinite possibilities of who we are. It is essentially the holding place or residence of unconditional love within us. It is helpful to visualize yellow incubating and expanding outward from this area.
Haiku for Late Summer:
open to yellow
while swallowing bright flowers
tranquility smiles